A public interest law firm, the Chambers of Evans Ufeli, has threatened legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, following what it described as widespread failure and systemic breakdown during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
In a petition addressed to the Registrar of JAMB, the firm, led by Evans Ufeli cited numerous cases of technical malfunctions, poor logistics, and alleged safety breaches that, it claimed, severely compromised the credibility and fairness of the examination process.
Ufeli, who signed the petition in his capacity as both a legal practitioner and education advocate, alleged that the conditions under which the 2025 UTME was conducted rendered it unjust and detrimental to the mental well-being and academic future of many candidates.
One of the major issues raised in the letter was the early scheduling of exams where candidates, many of whom are minors, were reportedly instructed to arrive at examination centres as early as 6:00 a.m.
This, the firm argued, subjected young students to undue stress and physical exhaustion before their exams even began.
“This instruction caused anxiety, fatigue and confusion among 15 to 16-year-olds who were already grappling with exam tension,” the letter noted.
Beyond scheduling, the petition alleged that some candidates were reported missing during the course of the examination period. The firm described this as a serious failure on JAMB’s part to guarantee the safety and security of young Nigerians placed in its care.
“Such incidents expose deep flaws in the planning and execution of the UTME and raise serious concerns about the ability of JAMB to safeguard the lives of the candidates,” Ufeli stated.
The firm also pointed to lengthy delays in the commencement of exams at many centres. These delays, according to the letter, led to heightened anxiety levels among candidates and, in some cases, disrupted exam schedules altogether.
In light of the above, the law firm demanded that JAMB immediately cancel the 2025 UTME results and conduct a fresh round of examinations under improved conditions.
“This examination, as conducted, failed to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and transparency. It must be set aside and a new one organized under conditions that meet acceptable standards,” the firm asserted.
Ufeli warned that if JAMB fails to act on the demands, his chambers will have no choice but to seek redress in court.
“Should JAMB fail to address these grave concerns, we will be compelled to initiate legal proceedings to protect the rights and futures of the affected candidates,” he wrote.
